I barely registered the pain as I landed hard on my shoulder after being roughly shoved back into the cell. My mind was spinning. What was happening? I swear I had never heard the queen's voice before yesterday. So that means that I couldn't possibly have been imagining the voice in my head right? Because if I was imagining it, there was no way it could've perfectly matched the voice I just heard in the throne room. I'm literally going insane. 

Hush. 

Ahh! There it was again! I needed answers. 

Who are you? I felt so stupid talking to a voice inside my head with my own voice inside my head. 

All will be revealed in due time, but not now. 

Well, gee thanks. That's so incredibly helpful. 

Savannah, you must be patient. Don't overreact.

Right, don't overreact. I've just got a queen in my head, apparently. Totally normal. My head was spinning and I felt faint from all the excitement. I sat down on the damp ground. 

Feeling the dampness on my skin brought me back to reality. My body gave a jolt as I realized that I was still stuck in the cell. I had to get out of here. I had to get away from this place and these people, from my mother's murderer. I looked around, praying for a sharp object that I could use pick the lock. None appeared. I peeked through the cell bars. I saw a guard slumped on the opposite wall. He looked half asleep, but I knew better than to underestimate these people. Plus, there was no way I would be able to grab his set of keys. 

Savannah, stop trying to escape. We need you here. 

Yeah, I know. You want to turn me into a weapon for the crown, for the people who literally murdered my poor mother in cold blood. Of course you don't want me to escape. You've been using me all along! You're one of them! You've been playing me from the very beginning! 

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The king used his magic to put the queen into my head somehow. And she is supposed to influence my decisions, making me think I'm crazy, eventually leading me to insanity. And then they have a nice weapon that explodes on anyone and everyone. Solid plan. I must say, I am slightly impressed. 

Savannah! Why can't you ever stop jumping to conclusions? 

And now I'm being scolded by a queen in my own damn head! What is happening? I'm freaking out! Am I dead? Or maybe I'm in a coma and the king is using magic to put hallucinations in my mind for some reason? 

Savannah! Listen to me goddammit! Hush for a second. I'll explain everything soon. For now shut up and listen. 

I waited for her to finish her point, but she never did. I began to get impatient. 

Listen to what? 

Shhhhh just listen. 

I strained my ears and tried to listen to whatever imaginary sound she had dreamed up. Finally, my ears picked up faint footsteps. They grew louder as they got closer. Terrified, I backed up against the wall of the cell. I began running through plans in my head as to how I could fight the person that was definitely here to torture me. 

Relax, Savannah, you're fine. 

A figure appeared in front the cell door. I couldn't quite make out who the person was in the dim light. The person got out a pair of keys and opened the door. I shrunk back as the person entered the cell. 

"Van?"